How Delaware taxes your paycheck in 2026
Delaware uses graduated brackets running from 2.2% up to 6.6%. On top of that, every Delaware worker pays federal income tax plus 6.2% Social Security (on the first $184,500 of 2026 wages) and 1.45% Medicare with no cap. This calculator applies all of it at once, so the take-home figure is the real one.
Delaware income tax brackets, 2026
Applied to taxable income — that is, your wages after the Delaware standard deduction. Single filer figures shown.
| Rate | Taxable income (single) |
|---|---|
| 2.2% | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| 3.9% | $5,000 – $10,000 |
| 4.8% | $10,000 – $20,000 |
| 5.2% | $20,000 – $25,000 |
| 5.55% | $25,000 – $60,000 |
| 6.6% | $60,000 and above |
Standard deduction: $3,250 single / $6,500 married · Exemption credit: $110 single / $220 married.
What Delaware state tax costs at different salaries
Single filer, Delaware state income tax only — federal tax and FICA are on top of these figures.
| Annual salary | Delaware income tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,098 | 4.20% |
| $75,000 | $3,609 | 4.81% |
| $100,000 | $5,259 | 5.26% |
| $150,000 | $8,559 | 5.71% |
Local income tax in Delaware
Some Delaware cities and counties levy their own income tax on top of the state rate. Pick yours from the dropdown above — options include Wilmington (1.25%).
How Delaware compares with neighbouring states
State income tax owed by a single filer on a $75,000 salary — Delaware against the states around it:
| State | Tax on $75,000 | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $2,303 | 3.07% |
| New Jersey | $2,598 | 3.46% |
| Maryland | $3,199 | 4.27% |
| Virginia | $3,498 | 4.66% |
| Delaware (this state) | $3,609 | 4.81% |
Delaware ranks highest of these 5 at that salary, costing about $1,307 a year more than Pennsylvania. Where you physically work usually decides which state withholds, so a short commute across a border can change your take-home meaningfully.
Why your effective Delaware rate isn't 6.6%
On a $75,000 salary the headline rate is 6.6%, but the real bite is about 4.81%. Two things cause the gap. First, the brackets are marginal — only income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. Second, Delaware shelters the first $3,250 of income before any tax applies. A credit of $110 is then subtracted from the tax itself, which lowers the effective rate further.
Worth noting: Delaware's $3,250 of shelter is well below the federal standard deduction of $16,100, so you pay Delaware tax on roughly $12,850 more income than you pay federal tax on — about $848 a year in extra state tax at the top rate.
Local tax applies in Delaware. Some cities or counties add their own income tax on top of the state rate — select yours from the dropdown above, since it can exceed the state tax itself in a few places.
Federal taxes on top
Every Delaware worker also pays federal income tax plus 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare. Those rules are identical in all 50 states — see the main paycheck calculator for how FICA, the wage base, pre-tax deductions and FICA-exempt occupations work.
Nearby states
Compare Delaware with Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia — or see the full list of all 50 states and DC.